Some Methodological Issues in Macroecology

Abstract

Recent years have seen the emergence of “macroecology” as a distinct research program in biology. It is concerned with geographical scale patterns in assemblage structure and, as such, of necessity relies heavily on approaches that are nonexperimental and that depend on the availability of reliable information for large numbers of species. This gives rise to a particular set of analytical issues that need to be addressed when conducting studies of macroecological patterns. In this article, we draw attention to nine such issues that we consider to be of particular importance. Our aim is to aid the development of what we believe to be an important subject area by identifying some of the more common problems that may confound studies, as well as some of their solutions.